BWW Reviews: NINA KRISTOFFERSON'S BILLIE HOLIDAY STORY, Charing Cross Theatre, April 8 2013

If a couple of decent showings on The Voice is sufficient to warrant the status of a legend these days, there was a time when rather more was required. The legendary Billie Holiday did it the hard way - the very hard way - combining a unique vocal style, iconic songs and a life story of almost unrelenting pain. Nina Kristofferson's Billie Holiday Story (at the Charing Cross Theatre until 25 May) brings The Legend to life.

With Alan Rogers' jazzy, bluesy band accompanying her and with a backdrop evoking Harlem's Cotton Club, Ms Kristofferson sings with the phrasing and fragility of Lady Day. There's classic after classic - A Fine Romance, God Bless The Child, All of Me, a sensational Good Morning Heartache and a chilling Strange Fruit. Between these and plenty more songs, we learn of Lady Day's life of abusive relationships, racism and drugs and alcohol. The contrast between the horrors spoken and the melodies sung is sharp - it was no wonder Billie couldn't handle so much and died so young.

Something between a cabaret and a confessional, the show occasionally jars, the tone never quite settling - but maybe that's right. Billie Holiday never settled either and Nina Kristofferson captures the spirit, the sordidness and the singing in a performance that is both compelling and repelling. It's hardly a feelgood show - but that was never on the bill when Billie was in town.

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